A review of budgets for the past three conferences, provided by a government source, shows that the pattern of excessive costs began in planning the 2008 conference – where costs soared from $323,855 in 2006 to $655,025in 2008. That represents a 102 percent increase between 2006 and 2008.

Reports of excessive spending at the 2010 conference, which cost taxpayers in excess of $800,000, lead to the resignation and firing of three officials at the top of the organization, which provides logistics and support to executive branch agencies. The spending at the 2010 Las Vegas conference, first reported by the Washington Post, included a taxpayer-funded clown, a mindreader, and collusion between GSA employees and vendors to hide some of the true costs of the conference.

The Obama administration moved quickly in the wake of a pending Inspector General report, firing the two top deputies. White House staff described President Obama as “outraged” at the reports. Administrator Martha Johnson resigned, and several employees have been placed on leave pending investigation. Republicans on the Hill have vowed a full investigation.

The latest figures on the conference point to a pattern of ever-increasing spending at the GSA’s conference that spans administrations.

UPDATE 4/12:This post has been updated to correct false information originally provided by a source. The correct conference costs were provided by Rep. Darrell Issa's Oversight Committee and this post has been updated.